Arraignment Date Set for Suspects in Short Hills Mall Murder

By CYNTHIA CUMMING

December 23, 2013 at 3:31 PM

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Credits: ECPO

NEWARK, NJ - The four defendants arrested in connection with the murder and carjacking of Dustin Friedland, 30, on Dec. 15 at The Mall at Short Hills will be arraigned on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014 at 9 a.m. before Judge Peter J. Vazquez, J.S.C.

The announcement came Monday morning from Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray.

Friedland, of Hoboken, was shot when he and his wife were carjacked for their silver 2012 Range Rover as they left the mall around 9:50 p.m. Friedland fought with an assailant in an effort to protect his wife, who was already in the vehicle, and was subsequently shot in the head. He was taken to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His funeral was held on Dec. 18.

On Monday morning, Basim Henry, 32, one of the suspects in the case, was in federal court to have an an unlawful flight from prosecution charge dismissed, stemming from a violation of his supervised release for a 2006 robbery conviction. Henry was found in a hotel in Easton, Pa. and arrested by federal authorities. This dismissal by the federal government now allows prosecution by Essex County for the carjacking and murder charges leveled against Henry, who is suspected to be the driver of the green Suburban SUV the night of the killing. Surveillance footage captured the vehicle circling the lot. The vehicle belongs to Henry's mother.

The other three suspects, Hanif Thompson, 29, of Irvington was arrested in Irvington; Karif Ford, 31, of Newark was arrested in Newark; and Kevin Roberts, 33, of Newark was arrested in Newark. Arrests were made and suspects taken into custody late Friday and early Saturday morning. The four suspects are all charged with Murder, Felony Murder, Carjacking, Conspiracy, Possession of a Weapon and Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose, and bail is set at $2 million for each defendant by Judge Michael L. Ravin of the Superior Court.

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